Unpopular opinion: College degrees matter way less than people think for flooring work

I keep seeing people push for certifications and degrees in construction forums, but honestly, I've been running my own flooring business for 8 years now and none of that stuff helped me land a single job. What actually made the difference was doing free samples for local contractors back in 2019. I did 12 kitchens at material cost just to build a portfolio, and that got me more referrals than any diploma ever could. People care about seeing your work and knowing you show up on time, not some piece of paper. Has anyone else skipped the traditional route and made it work through hustle alone?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivan_harris11d ago

Ha, I read something similar in a trade magazine the other day about how referrals beat resumes every time in the skilled trades.

max_cooper2111d ago

It's not just trades either. I've seen it play out everywhere from restaurant kitchens to small machine shops. Someone who comes in with a good word from a current employee usually knows the pace and the culture before they even start. Meanwhile, a resume can be polished to hide someone who can't handle the real work. It's like the difference between knowing someone's references are real versus reading a script. The whole system just runs smoother when you're vouching for a person instead of a piece of paper.

emmaking11d ago

Man, I used to be all about the resume being king, but you're making a solid point here. I always thought a clean piece of paper was the safest bet, but you're right that it doesn't tell you anything about how someone actually works under pressure. This whole conversation is making me rethink my whole hiring approach, honestly.